"Can't keep this up!"
Cloud gritted his teeth and launched a counterattack!
"Battle God Ultimate: Night Parade of a Hundred Demons!"
He compressed his domain power into both fists, transforming into dozens of golden afterimages that launched a fierce counter against Mature!
But Mature's reaction was impossibly fast!
Her body twisted at angles that defied human anatomy, bending like she had no bones at all, narrowly dodging every single one of Cloud's attacks!
"Little handsome, your moves are... so stiff~"
She even had time to blow Cloud a flirtatious wink while evading.
Cloud's mind churned like a stormy sea.
This was the first time since his transmigration that he'd been completely suppressed in combat technique!
This woman... is a monster!
Just as Cloud felt the pressure mounting and his focus sharpened to a razor's edge, that power within him—the Orochi essence temporarily sealed by the system—reacted to Mature's kindred aura...
...and involuntarily leaked a trace!
Hummmm—!
An extremely faint yet supremely pure, supremely noble aura—as if transcending all existence—flashed from Cloud's body for just an instant!
In that heartbeat, Mature's furious assault... froze!
Her emerald eyes erupted with shock, terror, and—from the deepest depths of her bloodline—irresistible fervor and submission!
What... what was that power?!
That aura...
Higher than the "Riot of the Blood"!
Purer than the Eight Elite's power!
Her body instinctively wanted to kneel!
Wanted to offer her most humble loyalty to the master of that aura!
"No... I can't!"
Mature used every ounce of willpower to suppress that soul-deep compulsion.
She quickly retreated, putting distance between herself and Cloud, her gaze toward him completely transformed.
No more playfulness. No more amusement.
Only the reverence of the most devout believer gazing upon their god!
She took a deep breath, smoothing her slightly disheveled clothes, returning to that seductive, bewitching appearance.
She stepped slowly toward Cloud, extending delicate fingers to gently caress his cheek—the motion as tender as if touching a priceless treasure.
Then she leaned close to his ear and spoke in a voice only they could hear—dreamlike, filled with fervor and awe:
"So... you're the one from legend... the Divine Child."
With that, she flashed Cloud another smile capable of toppling kingdoms, then turned gracefully and vanished from the battlefield in a few flickers.
As if she had never been there at all.
Cloud: "???"
He stood frozen in place, touching the skin on his cheek where a trace of fragrance lingered, his mind completely blank.
Divine Child?
What Divine Child?
Is this woman... sick or something?!
...
Meanwhile, the battle had shifted.
Under Kyo's relentless "emotional appeal (physical version)," Saisyu's vacant eyes finally showed a glimmer of clarity!
"Kyo...?"
"Dad! You're awake!"
Kyo was both surprised and overjoyed.
As for Iori, after ten-plus minutes of "massage service," the Riot of the Blood's excessive consumption finally caught up to him—Rugal seized an opening and sent him flying with a Kaiser Wave. He carved a deep trench through the ground and ended up charred black, looking thoroughly struck by lightning.
"It's over."
Rugal surveyed the three "battered soldiers" before him, a victor's smile spreading across his face.
The dark aura around him climbed to its peak!
Absolute Domain 58%!
"Now, become my most perfect collection!"
But just as he prepared to deliver the killing blow—
A golden figure blocked his path.
It was Cloud!
"Old man, your opponent... is ME!"
Cloud's golden flames—fusing Battle God aura and Kusanagi fire—blazed brilliantly!
Absolute Domain 56%!
Though still below Rugal in level...
He commanded the two most supreme, most domineering flames in this world!
"Kusanagi flames... Yagami flames... why... are they both in you?!"
For the first time, genuine emotion crossed Rugal's face.
"Wanna know?"
Cloud's lips curved into a wild arc.
"Go ask the King of Hell!"
Both hands traced circles in the air before him!
His left hand blazed with red-gold flames—the ultimate Yang, the Flames of Kusanagi!
His right hand blazed with purple-azure flames—the ultimate Yin, the Yagami Azure Flames!
"Take this... Yin-Yang Style: Twin Dragons Playing with Pearls Orochinagi!"
Two flame whips of different colors—each carrying the terrible heat to incinerate all creation—twisted together like two intertwined dragons of Yin and Yang, bearing the supreme authority to judge everything, as they crashed toward Rugal!
In that instant, genuine fear flickered in Rugal's eyes for the first time!
...
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